Method and apparatus for facilitating payment option aggregation to complete a transaction initiated at a third party payment apparatus, utilizing an automated authentication engine

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program products are provided for performing payment option aggregation to complete a transaction initiated at a third party payment apparatus. One example method includes receiving, from the third party payment apparatus, a request to complete a transaction, the request initiated via input of identifying information to the third party payment apparatus or initiating a short-range wireless communication connection with the third party payment apparatus to transmit the identifying information, authenticating a user utilizing the identifying information, authentication comprising sending a request to a mobile device associated with the identifying information for location information; and confirming a match between the location information and a location associated with the third party payment apparatus, accessing one or more payment entities, using authenticated user identifying information to identify payment options, each payment option having an associated payment method, and completing the transaction utilizing a selected payment option.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for performing payment option aggregation to complete a transaction initiated at a third party payment apparatus, the method comprising:
 receiving, from the third party payment apparatus, a request to complete a transaction, the request initiated via input of identifying information to the third party payment apparatus or initiating a short-range wireless communication connection with the third party payment apparatus to transmit the identifying information;   authenticating a user utilizing the identifying information, authentication comprising:   sending a request to a mobile device associated with the identifying information for location information; and confirming a match between the location information and a location associated with the third party payment apparatus;   accessing one or more payment entities, using authenticated user identifying information to identify payment options, each payment option having an associated payment method; and   completing the transaction utilizing a selected payment option.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing, for display, a descriptor associated with each of a portion of the identified payment options; and   receiving an indication of a selection of at least one payment option.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining one or more payment entities from which to solicit payment options;   providing the determined one or more payment entities with the device identifying information and a transaction amount;   receiving a bid amount from a subset of the determined one or more payment entities, the bid amount indicative of a bid amount each of the one or more payment entities would be willing to pay for placement of an associated payment option;   providing, for display, a descriptor associated with each of a portion of the payment options in accordance with the bids; and   receiving an indication of a selection of at least one payment option.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing user-set, pre-defined preference data, the user-set, pre-defined preference data indicative of at least one specific parameter on which to base a selection;   selecting, without additional user input, a particular payment option from the payment options that provides a maximal value of the specific parameter; and   completing the transaction utilizing the selected particular payment option.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the authenticating step comprises:
 receiving, from a first entity, an indication of a request received at the first entity to access an account from a device associated with a user, the indication comprising at least one instance of first device identification information of at least one device having authorization to access the account;   providing a network address to the first entity, the network address configured to be sent to the device from the first entity;   receiving, from a second entity, second device identification information, the second device identification information determined upon the device accessing to the network address;   performing a real-time comparison between the first device identification information and second device identification information; and   prompting the first entity to grant the device access to the account if a match is detected between the first device identification information and second device identification information.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the authentication is performed based on a bio marker comprising at least one of a fingerprint or face identification. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining one or more payment entities from which to solicit payment options;   providing the determined one or more payment entities with the device identifying information and a transaction amount; and   receiving an indication of one or more benefits with which to display in conjunction with an indication of the payment option during placement.   
     
     
         8 . A computer program product for performing payment option aggregation, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising program code instructions for:
 receiving, from the third party payment apparatus, a request to complete a transaction, the request initiated via input of identifying information to the third party payment apparatus or initiating a short-range wireless communication connection with the third party payment apparatus to transmit the identifying information;   authenticating a user utilizing the identifying information, authentication comprising:   sending a request to a mobile device associated with the identifying information for location information; and confirming a match between the location information and a location associated with the third party payment apparatus;   accessing one or more payment entities, using authenticated user identifying information to identify payment options, each payment option having an associated payment method; and   completing the transaction utilizing a selected payment option.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product according to  claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:
 providing, for display, a descriptor associated with each of a portion of the identified payment options; and   receiving an indication of a selection of at least one payment option.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product according to  claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:
 determining one or more payment entities from which to solicit payment options;   providing the determined one or more payment entities with the device identifying information and a transaction amount;   receiving a bid amount from a subset of the determined one or more payment entities, the bid amount indicative of a bid amount each of the one or more payment entities would be willing to pay for placement of an associated payment option;   providing, for display, a descriptor associated with each of a portion of the payment options in accordance with the bids; and   receiving an indication of a selection of at least one payment option.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product according to  claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:
 accessing user-set, pre-defined preference data, the user-set, pre-defined preference data indicative of at least one specific parameter on which to base a selection;   selecting, without additional user input, a particular payment option from the payment options that provides a maximal value of the specific parameter; and   completing the transaction utilizing the selected particular payment option.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product according to  claim 8 , wherein the authenticating step comprises:
 receiving, from a first entity, an indication of a request received at the first entity to access an account from a device associated with a user, the indication comprising at least one instance of first device identification information of at least one device having authorization to access the account;   providing a network address to the first entity, the network address configured to be sent to the device from the first entity;   receiving, from a second entity, second device identification information, the second device identification information determined upon the device accessing to the network address;   performing a real-time comparison between the first device identification information and second device identification information; and   prompting the first entity to grant the device access to the account if a match is detected between the first device identification information and second device identification information.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product according to  claim 8 , wherein the authentication is performed based on a bio marker comprising at least one of a fingerprint or face identification. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product according to  claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable program code instructions further comprise program code instructions for:
 determining one or more payment entities from which to solicit payment options;   providing the determined one or more payment entities with the device identifying information and a transaction amount; and   receiving an indication of one or more benefits with which to display in conjunction with an indication of the payment option during placement.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for performing payment option aggregation, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 receiving, from the third party payment apparatus, a request to complete a transaction, the request initiated via input of identifying information to the third party payment apparatus or initiating a short-range wireless communication connection with the third party payment apparatus to transmit the identifying information;   authenticating a user utilizing the identifying information, authentication comprising:   sending a request to a mobile device associated with the identifying information for location information; and confirming a match between the location information and a location associated with the third party payment apparatus;   accessing one or more payment entities, using authenticated user identifying information to identify payment options, each payment option having an associated payment method; and   completing the transaction utilizing a selected payment option.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 providing, for display, a descriptor associated with each of a portion of the identified payment options; and   receiving an indication of a selection of at least one payment option.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product according to  claim 15 , the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 determining one or more payment entities from which to solicit payment options;   providing the determined one or more payment entities with the device identifying information and a transaction amount;   receiving a bid amount from a subset of the determined one or more payment entities, the bid amount indicative of a bid amount each of the one or more payment entities would be willing to pay for placement of an associated payment option;   providing, for display, a descriptor associated with each of a portion of the payment options in accordance with the bids; and   receiving an indication of a selection of at least one payment option.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 accessing user-set, pre-defined preference data, the user-set, pre-defined preference data indicative of at least one specific parameter on which to base a selection;   selecting, without additional user input, a particular payment option from the payment options that provides a maximal value of the specific parameter; and   completing the transaction utilizing the selected particular payment option.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the authenticating step comprises:
 receiving, from a first entity, an indication of a request received at the first entity to access an account from a device associated with a user, the indication comprising at least one instance of first device identification information of at least one device having authorization to access the account;   providing a network address to the first entity, the network address configured to be sent to the device from the first entity;   receiving, from a second entity, second device identification information, the second device identification information determined upon the device accessing to the network address;   performing a real-time comparison between the first device identification information and second device identification information; and   prompting the first entity to grant the device access to the account if a match is detected between the first device identification information and second device identification information.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the authentication is performed based on a bio marker comprising at least one of a fingerprint or face identification. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 determining one or more payment entities from which to solicit payment options;   providing the determined one or more payment entities with the device identifying information and a transaction amount; and   receiving an indication of one or more benefits with which to display in conjunction with an indication of the payment option during placement.